Parish News & Events

Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church

Raleigh, NC

SUNDAY OF THE PUBLICAN AND PHARISEE

FEBRUARY 21, 2021

We invite you to join us this Sunday to celebrate the Divine Liturgy whether in person or virtually. We also extend a special welcome to all newcomers.

MEMORY ETERNAL

This Sunday following the Divine Liturgy, Father Paul will provide two annual family memorials:

On behalf of The Nicholos Family in honor and memory of Xanthe Nicholos, their beloved mother and grandmother. May her memory be eternal. “We miss and love you always,” from your loving family: Harry, Sarah, Alex, Racheal and Emily.

On behalf of Dena Aretakis, in memory of her beloved mother, Marion Vurnakes Aretakis, and her loving father, Constantine Aretakis. May their memories be eternal. “You both are missed and loved always,” from your loving daughter, Dena Aretakis.

ATTEND LITURGY VIRTUALLY OR IN PERSON

Online Registration is required!

Due to the continued impact of COVID-19 and the decision to practice e precaution for everyone, we are maintaining, but slightly increasing, the number of attendees at any given service to 50 parishioners. While we have increased the attendance to 50 parishioners/visitors, we ask that everyone remain diligent in social distancing and wearing masks. Instructions for registering to attend in person are provided below. For all who do not attend in-person, please join in with us through our live-streamed service at: www.holytrinityraleigh.org.

If you attended the Sunday service last week, please allow other parishioners the opportunity to attend and do not register for two or three consecutive services. However, if there are still openings 30 minutes before registration closes at 9:00 p.m. the evening before the service, then we encourage you to register. We also remind you: If for some reason, you cannot attend service after signing up, PLEASE remove your name(s) from signup at the website.

Please arrive early to Sunday service, before 9:45, giving time for check in. When attending the service, please wear a mask at all times, sign in upon entering, allow your temperature to be taken, and maintain proper distance with those attending.

Check in will include answering the COVID-19 questions below.

If you answer “yes” to any of the following COVID-19 questions, we ask that you not sign up for a church service at this time.

Do you have any of the following symptoms that are new or worsening: cough, congestion, shortness of breath, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, fever or feeling feverish, chills, muscle pain, headache, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea?
Have you had close contact with a person with confirmed COVID-19 in the last 21 days?
Have you tested positive in the last 21 days for COVID-19?

Please be mindful of your fellow parishioners by not registering for all services.

If you have any difficulty signing up, please email: htgocrsignup@gmail.com

SIGN UP FOR SERVICES

Please click here to register for Liturgy, SUNDAY OF THE PUBLICAN AND PHARISEE

Sunday, February 21 at 10:00 A.M. (Triodion Begins)

Please click here to register for Liturgy, SUNDAY OF THE PRODIGAL SON

Sunday, February 28 at 10:00 A.M.

Please click here to register for Liturgy, SATURDAY OF SOULS

Saturday, March 6 at 9:30 A.M.

Please click here to register for Liturgy, JUDGMENT SUNDAY

Sunday, March 7 at 10:00 A.M.

SPRING GENERAL ASSEMBLY

The Spring General Assembly will be held on Sunday, March 14^th at 12:30 p.m. (after the Divine Liturgy). All stewards will receive a 2021 information packet, through USPS mail in early March, to review in preparation for this meeting. This meeting will be held virtually, through Zoom, to make things as safe and comfortable as possible for everyone due to the ongoing Coronavirus issues. You must sign up at: https://forms.gle/njoPAMf2ra68rK767, to attend this virtual General Assembly Session. All registered attendees will be emailed a Zoom link in advance of the meeting.

In order to attend and vote, individuals must meet the criteria below:

1. You must have been a Steward of the Church at least three months;

2. You must have returned a completed stewardship pledge card for the current year, pledging your fair share in financial support to the Parish; and

3. You must have fulfilled your previous year’s pledge (unless you are a new member).

Please plan to join us!

MESSAGE FROM PARISH COUNCIL PRESIDENT

You are always welcome to attend!

The March Parish Council meeting will be on Wednesday, March 17^th at 7 pm. Due to COVID-19, we are currently meeting virtually using Zoom. All stewards and parishioners of Holy Trinity are welcome to attend any of these meetings. The discussion for this meeting will include an update to the 2021 YTD financial results as well as a discussion on the Capital Planning for the new sanctuary and church facilities led by George Pappas. For those who desire to attend virtually, please contact Jim Klemes at

jim.klemes@allwaysshred.com for details.

CHURCH BROADCAST INFORMATION UPDATE

We are moving exclusively to YouTube.com!

For those of you who have been watching the church broadcasts on Livestream.com and the 137 of you who are “followers”, we want to let you know that we will be leaving that broadcast platform due to the fees required by Livestream.com and the extra broadcast setup for each service required to maintain two different broadcast platforms. Livestream.com was our original home base for several years and last March we began simulcasting to the church’s YouTube channel because of the wider availability. We have over 325 subscribers on YouTube. Thanks to generous donations to the broadcast ministry, we are purchasing new equipment in order to improve our broadcasts which will begin on March 7, 2021, exclusively on the church’s YouTube channel. The links to both platforms provided on the church website, LIVE BROADCASTS, will be just one at that time. There will be a number of follow-up notifications of the transition off of Livestream in the next two weeks. Subscribers and followers who are on YouTube will not see any change from the transition. Thank you for your understanding. If you need assistance in this transition, please contact Chris Pappas at chris@polyconcpm.com.

2021 STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN UPDATE

Our 2021 Stewardship Campaign is off to a strong, momentous start. Thanks to those of you who have already submitted your commitment forms and pledges for the new year. We are incredibly thankful and humbled by your generosity and loyalty to Holy Trinity, and hope everyone understands the countless ways in which their stewardship support keeps our Beacon of Hope thriving on a daily basis, especially during these extraordinary times – your selfless giving is making a difference. THANK YOU for being a vital partner in this critical ministry!

The stewardship web page (http://www.holytrinityraleigh.org/community/parish-ministries/stewardship-ministry/), on the church website is now updated (http://www.holytrinityraleigh.org/) with 2021 campaign materials. We are thrilled to share that the link is now ACTIVE for you to submit your 2021 Commitment Cards online. For those of you who would like to do so electronically this year, please click on the box (see below) that is titled Submit 2021 Stewardship Commitment Form Online – on either the church home page or stewardship page (links above), and it will take you to a Google Doc to capture all the information that is on the paper commitment card. The active link can also be used by going directly to:(https://forms.gle/wMYzun2vQciEmrew6).

Now that this new feature is enabled, members will be able to turn in their commitment cards electronically and can immediately afterwards go into online giving portal, Abundant Giving, (https://abundant.co/holytrinityraleigh/give), to then set up your pledge and payment schedule online for the pledge piece of their stewardship for the year.

Outside of this new online submit/online process, you may still submit your commitment card and pledge support via the following methods:

MAIL your stewardship commitment card with pledge amount to Judy’s attention:Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 5000 Lead Mine Road, Raleigh, NC 27612

EMAIL your scanned commitment card with pledge amount to Judy:htraleighoffice@gmail.com

As always, if you have any questions or concerns regarding the 2021 campaign, the new online commitment card submission process, or your stewardship in general, please contact Angela Georgallis, Stewardship Co-Chair, at 919-339-3169 or acgeorgallis@gmail.com.

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR OUR STUDENTS

The Scholarship Committee is preparing the application for our students to be awarded the scholarships that our parish families have established. The past year has been difficult for all of us, please consider establishing a scholarship in honor or memory of your loved ones to help one of our parish students. You may choose the amount of the scholarship – every amount helps! Contact Penny Gallins (pgallins@mindspring.com or 919-6734300) by February 22 to be part of this year’s scholarships.

ST. JOHN’S THE MERCIFUL OUTREACH MINISTRY

Thank you each one for your generous donations to the Note in the Pocket in Raleigh sponsored by St. John’s the Merciful Outreach Ministry. The abundance of donated items will bring joy to many people. If you have any questions, you may contact Zoe Pusic at zpusic@yahoo.com or 646-591-5132. May God bless you for your support!

SERVICES AT HOLY TRINITY

Registrations to attend in-person are required.

Maximum capacity fifty (50) people per service

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 21ST, 2021

SUNDAY OF THE PUBLICAN AND PHARISEE

(Triodion Begins)

10:00 A.M. LITURGY

(BROADCAST BEGINS AT 9:45 A.M., DOXOLOGY AT 9:50 A.M.)

Please click here to register for Liturgy Sunday, February 21 at 10:00 A.M.

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 28TH, 2021

SUNDAY OF THE PRODIGAL SON

10:00 A.M. LITURGY

(BROADCAST BEGINS AT 9:45 A.M., DOXOLOGY AT 9:50 A.M.)

Please click here to register for Liturgy Sunday, February 28 at 10:00 A.M.

SATURDAY MARCH 6TH, 2021

SATURDAY OF SOULS

10:00 A.M. LITURGY

(BROADCAST BEGINS AT 9:15 A.M., DOXOLOGY AT 9:20 A.M.)

Please click here to register for Liturgy Saturday, March 6 at 9:30 A.M.

SUNDAY MARCH 7TH, 2021

JUDGMENT SUNDAY (MEATFARE SUNDAY!)

10:00 A.M. LITURGY

(BROADCAST BEGINS AT 9:45 A.M., DOXOLOGY AT 9:50 A.M.)

Please click here to register for Liturgy Sunday, March 7 at 10:00 A.M.

May God bless you and keep you safe!

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Fourth Mode

Having learned the joyful proclamation of the Resurrection from the Angel, and having cast off the ancestral condemnation, the women disciples of the Lord spake to the Apostles exultantly: Death is despoiled and Christ God is risen, granting great mercy to the world.

Τὸ φαιδρὸν τῆς Ἀναστάσεως κήρυγμα, ἐκ τοῦ Ἀγγέλου μαθοῦσαι αἱ τοῦ Κυρίου Μαθήτριαι, καὶ τὴν προγονικὴν ἀπόφασιν ἀπορρίψασαι, τοῖς Ἀποστόλοις καυχώμεναι ἔλεγον· Ἐσκύλευται ὁ θάνατος, ἠγέρθη Χριστὸς ὁ Θεός, δωρούμενος τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.

Hymn of our Holy Trinity Church Community in the First Mode

O blessed are You, O Christ our God. Who by sending down the Holy Spirit upon them, made the fisherman wise and through them illumined the world. And to you the Universe was ever drawn, all glory to You, O Lord.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Fourth Mode

Let us flee from the boasting of the Pharisee and learn through our own sighs of sorrow the humility of the Publican. Let us cry out to the Savior, "Have mercy on us, for through You alone are we reconciled."

Φαρισαίου φύγωμεν ὑψηγορίαν, καὶ Τελώνου μάθωμεν, τὸ ταπεινὸν ἐν στεναγμοῖς, πρὸς τὸν Σωτῆρα κραυγάζοντες· Ἵλαθι μόνε ἡμῖν εὐδιάλλακτε.

The translations of hymns are under copyright and used by permission. All rights reserved. These works may not be further reproduced, in print or on other websites or in any other form, without the prior written authorization of the copyright holder:

Resurrectional Apolytikion in Fourth Tone © Greek Standard Text

Resurrectional Apolytikion in Fourth Tone © Holy Transfiguration Monastery

Seasonal Kontakion in the Fourth Tone © Greek Standard Text

Seasonal Kontakion in the Fourth Tone © Narthex Press

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Fourth Orthros Gospel
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 24:1-12

Καὶ τὸ μὲν σάββατον ἡσύχασαν κατὰ τὴν ἐντολήν, Τῇ δὲ μιᾷ τῶν σαββάτων ὄρθρου βαθέος ἦλθον ἐπὶ τὸ μνῆμα φέρουσαι ἃ ἡτοίμασαν ἀρώματα, καί τινες σὺν αὐταῖς. εὗρον δὲ τὸν λίθον ἀποκεκυλισμένον ἀπὸ τοῦ μνημείου, καὶ εἰσελθοῦσαι οὐχ εὗρον τὸ σῶμα τοῦ Κυρίου ᾿Ιησοῦ. καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ διαπορεῖσθαι αὐτὰς περὶ τούτου καὶ ἰδοὺ ἄνδρες δύο ἐπέστησαν αὐταῖς ἐν ἐσθήσεσιν ἀστραπτούσαις. ἐμφόβων δὲ γενομένων αὐτῶν καὶ κλινουσῶν τὸ πρόσωπον εἰς τὴν γῆν εἶπον πρὸς αὐτάς· τί ζητεῖτε τὸν ζῶντα μετὰ τῶν νεκρῶν; οὐκ ἔστιν ὧδε, ἀλλ᾿ ἠγέρθη· μνήσθητε ὡς ἐλάλησεν ὑμῖν ἔτι ὢν ἐν τῇ Γαλιλαίᾳ, λέγων ὅτι δεῖ τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου παραδοθῆναι εἰς χεῖρας ἀνθρώπων ἁμαρτωλῶν καὶ σταυρωθῆναι, καὶ τῇ τρίτῃ ἡμέρᾳ ἀναστῆναι. καὶ ἐμνήσθησαν τῶν ῥημάτων αὐτοῦ, καὶ ὑποστρέψασαι ἀπὸ τοῦ μνημείου ἀπήγγειλαν ταῦτα πάντα τοῖς ἕνδεκα καὶ πᾶσι τοῖς λοιποῖς. ἦσαν δὲ ἡ Μαγδαληνὴ Μαρία καὶ ᾿Ιωάννα καὶ Μαρία ᾿Ιακώβου καὶ οἱ λοιπαὶ σὺν αὐταῖς, αἳ ἔλεγον πρὸς τοὺς ἀποστόλους ταῦτα. καὶ ἐφάνησαν ἐνώπιον αὐτῶν ὡσεὶ λῆρος τὰ ῥήματα αὐτῶν, καὶ ἠπίστουν αὐταῖς. ὁ δὲ Πέτρος ἀναστὰς ἔδραμεν ἐπὶ τὸ μνημεῖον, καὶ παρακύψας βλέπει τὰ ὀθόνια κείμενα μόνα, καὶ ἀπῆλθε πρὸς ἑαυτόν, θαυμάζων τὸ γεγονός.

Fourth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Luke 24:1-12

On the first day of the week, at early dawn, the women went to the tomb, taking the spices which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel; and as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of man must be delivered in to the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise." And they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told this to the apostles; but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.

But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home wondering at what had happened.

Epistle Reading

Προκείμενον. Fourth Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 103.24,1.
Ὡς ἐμεγαλύνθη τὰ ἔργα σου Κύριε, πάντα ἐν σοφίᾳ ἐποίησας.
Στίχ. Εὐλόγει ἡ ψυχή μου τὸν Κύριον.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Τιμόθεον β' 3:10-15.

Τέκνον Τιμόθεε, παρηκολούθηκάς μου τῇ διδασκαλίᾳ, τῇ ἀγωγῇ, τῇ προθέσει, τῇ πίστει, τῇ μακροθυμίᾳ, τῇ ἀγάπῃ, τῇ ὑπομονῇ, τοῖς διωγμοῖς, τοῖς παθήμασιν, οἷά μοι ἐγένετο ἐν Ἀντιοχείᾳ, ἐν Ἰκονίῳ, ἐν Λύστροις, οἵους διωγμοὺς ὑπήνεγκα· καὶ ἐκ πάντων με ἐρρύσατο ὁ κύριος. Καὶ πάντες δὲ οἱ θέλοντες εὐσεβῶς ζῇν ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ διωχθήσονται. Πονηροὶ δὲ ἄνθρωποι καὶ γόητες προκόψουσιν ἐπὶ τὸ χεῖρον, πλανῶντες καὶ πλανώμενοι. Σὺ δὲ μένε ἐν οἷς ἔμαθες καὶ ἐπιστώθης, εἰδὼς παρὰ τίνος ἔμαθες, καὶ ὅτι ἀπὸ βρέφους τὰ ἱερὰ γράμματα οἶδας, τὰ δυνάμενά σε σοφίσαι εἰς σωτηρίαν διὰ πίστεως τῆς ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ.

Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Psalm 103.24,1.
O Lord, how manifold are your works. You have made all things in wisdom.
Verse: Bless the Lord, O my soul.

The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to Timothy 3:10-15.

TIMOTHY, my son, you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions, my sufferings, what befell me at Antioch, at lconion, and at Lystra, what persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceivers and deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee: Triodion Begins Today
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 18:10-14

Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος τήν παραβολὴν ταύτην· Ἄνθρωποι δύο ἀνέβησαν εἰς τὸ ἱερὸν προσεύξασθαι, ὁ εἷς Φαρισαῖος καὶ ὁ ἕτερος τελώνης. ὁ Φαρισαῖος σταθεὶς πρὸς ἑαυτὸν ταῦτα προσηύχετο· ὁ Θεός, εὐχαριστῶ σοι ὅτι οὐκ εἰμὶ ὥσπερ οἱ λοιποὶ τῶν ἀνθρώπων, ἅρπαγες, ἄδικοι, μοιχοί, ἢ καὶ ὡς οὗτος ὁ τελώνης· νηστεύω δὶς τοῦ σαββάτου, ἀποδεκατῶ πάντα ὅσα κτῶμαι. καὶ ὁ τελώνης μακρόθεν ἑστὼς οὐκ ἤθελεν οὐδὲ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν ἐπᾶραι, ἀλλ᾿ ἔτυπτεν εἰς τὸ στῆθος αὐτοῦ λέγων· ὁ Θεός, ἱλάσθητί μοι τῷ ἁμαρτωλῷ. λέγω ὑμῖν, κατέβη οὗτος δεδικαιωμένος εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ ἢ γὰρ ἐκεῖνος· ὅτι πᾶς ὁ ὑψῶν ἑαυτὸν ταπεινωθήσεται, ὁ δὲ ταπεινῶν ἑαυτὸν ὑψωθήσεται.

Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee: Triodion Begins Today
The Reading is from Luke 18:10-14

The Lord said this parable, "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I get.' But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Saints and Feasts

February 21

Eustathius, Bishop of Antioch

Saint Eustathius, the great defender of piety and illustrious opponent of Arianism, was from Side in Pamphylia. He became Bishop of Beroea (the present-day Aleppo), and in 325 was present at the First Ecumenical Council. From thence he was transferred to the throne of Antioch. But Saint Constantine the Great, led astray by the slanders directed against the Saint by the Arians, banished him to Trajanopolis in Thrace, where he reposed in 337, according to some. Others say he lived until 360.

February 21

Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee: Triodion Begins Today

The Pharisees were an ancient and outstanding sect among the Jews known for their diligent observance of the outward matters of the Law. Although, according to the word of our Lord, they "did all their works to be seen of men" (Matt. 23:5), and were hypocrites (ibid. 23: 13, 14, 15, etc.), because of the apparent holiness of their lives they were thought by all to be righteous, and separate from others, which is what the name Pharisee means. On the other hand, Publicans, collectors of the royal taxes, committed many injustices and extortions for filthy lucre's sake, and all held them to be sinners and unjust. It was therefore according to common opinion that the Lord Jesus in His parable signified a virtuous person by a Pharisee, and a sinner by a Publican, to teach His disciples the harm of pride and the profit of humble-mindedness.

Since the chief weapon for virtue is humility, and the greatest hindrance to it is pride, the divine Fathers have set these three weeks before the Forty-day Fast as a preparation for the spiritual struggles of virtue. This present week they have called Harbinger, since it declares that the Fast is approaching; and they set humility as the foundation for all our spiritual labors by appointing that the parable of the Publican and the Pharisee be read today, even before the Fast begins, to teach, through the vaunting of the Pharisee, that the foul smoke of self-esteem and the stench of boasting drives away the grace of the Spirit, strips man of all his virtue, and casts him into the pits of Hades; and, through the repentance and contrite prayer of the Publican, that humility confers upon the sinner forgiveness of all his wicked deeds and raises him up to the greatest heights.

All foods are allowed the week that follows this Sunday.

February 21

Timothy the Righteous

Saint Timothy took up the monastic life from his youth, became a vessel of the Holy Spirit, and reposed in deep old age.

February 24

First & Second Finding of the Venerable Head of John the Baptist

The first finding came to pass during the middle years of the fourth century, through a revelation of the holy Forerunner to two monks, who came to Jerusalem to worship our Saviour's Tomb. One of them took the venerable head in a clay jar to Emesa in Syria. After his death it went from the hands of one person to another, until it came into the possession of a certain priest-monk named Eustathius, an Arian. Because he ascribed to his own false belief the miracles wrought through the relic of the holy Baptist, he was driven from the cave in which he dwelt, and by dispensation forsook the holy head, which was again made known through a revelation of Saint John, and was found in a water jar, about the year 430, in the days of the Emperor Theodosius the Younger, when Uranius was Bishop of Emesa.

February 25

Tarasius, Patriarch of Constantinople

This Saint was the son of one of the foremost princes in Constantinople, and was originally a consul and first among the Emperor's private counselors. Then, in 784, he was elected Patriarch of Constantinople by the Sovereigns Irene and her son Constantine Porphyrogenitus. He convoked the Seventh Ecumenical Council that upheld the holy icons, and became the boast of the Church and a light to the clergy. He reposed in 806.

February 26

Porphyrius, Bishop of Gaza

Saint Porphyrius had Thessalonica as his homeland. He became a monk in Scete of Egypt, where he lived for five years. He went on pilgrimage to Jerusalem, after which he spent five years in much affliction in a cave near the Jordan. Stricken with a disease of the liver, he departed to Jerusalem, where he was ordained presbyter and appointed Keeper of the Cross at the age of 45. Three years later he was made Bishop of Gaza. He suffered much from the rulers and pagans of Gaza; but with the friendship of Saint John Chrysostom, and the patronage of the Empress Eudoxia, he razed the temple of the idol Marnas in Gaza and built a great church to the glory of God. He reposed in 450.

February 22

The Finding of the Precious Relics of the Holy Martyrs in the Quarter of Eugenius

The holy relics of these Saints were found in the quarter of Constantinople called Eugenius when Thomas was Patriarch of that city (607-610).

February 23

Polycarp the Holy Martyr & Bishop of Smyrna

This apostolic and prophetic man, and model of faith and truth, was a disciple of John the Evangelist, successor of Bucolus (Feb. 6), and teacher of Irenaeus (Aug. 23). He was an old man and full of days when the fifth persecution was raised against the Christians under Marcus Aurelius. When his pursuers, sent by the ruler, found Polycarp, he commanded that they be given something to eat and drink, then asked them to give him an hour to pray; he stood and prayed, full of grace, for two hours, so that his captors repented that they had come against so venerable a man. He was brought by the Proconsul of Smyrna into the stadium and was commanded, "Swear by the fortune of Caesar; repent, and say, 'Away with the atheists.'" By atheists, the Proconsul meant the Christians. But Polycarp, gazing at the heathen in the stadium, waved his hand towards them and said, "Away with the atheists." When the Proconsul urged him to blaspheme against Christ, he said: "I have been serving Christ for eighty-six years, and He has wronged me in nothing; how can I blaspheme my King Who has saved me?" But the tyrant became enraged at these words and commanded that he be cast into the fire, and thus he gloriously expired about the year 163. As Eusebius says, "Polycarp everywhere taught what he had also learned from the Apostles, which also the Church has handed down; and this alone is true" (Eccl. Hist., Book IV, ch. 14,15).

February 26

The Holy Great Martyr Photine, the Samaritan Women

Saint Photine was the Samaritan Woman who encountered Christ our Saviour at Jacob's Well (John 4:1-42). Afterwards she laboured in the spread of the Gospel in various places, and finally received the crown of martyrdom in Rome with her two sons and five sisters, during the persecutions under the Emperor Nero.

February 27

Procopius the Confessor of Decapolis

Saints Procopius and Basil, fellow ascetics, lived about the middle of the eighth century, during the reign of Leo the Isaurian (717-741), from whom they suffered many things for the sake of the veneration of the holy icons. They ended their lives in the ascetical discipline.

February 28

Righteous John Cassian the Confessor

Note: If it is not a leap year the hymns of Saint John are transferred to the 28th.

This Saint was born about the year 350, and was, according to some, from Rome, according to others, from Dacia Pontica (Dobrogea in present-day Romania). He was a learned man who had first served in the military. Later, he forsook this life and became a monk in Bethlehem with his friend and fellow-ascetic, Germanus of Dacia Pontica, whose memory is also celebrated today. Hearing the fame of the great Fathers of Scete, they went to Egypt about the year 390; their meetings with the famous monks of Scete are recorded in Saint John's Conferences. In the year 403 they went to Constantinople, where Cassian was ordained deacon by Saint John Chrysostom; after the exile of Saint Chrysostom, Saints Cassian and Germanus went to Rome with letters to Pope Innocent I in defence of the exiled Archbishop of Constantinople. There Saint Cassian was ordained priest, after which he went to Marseilles, where he established the famous monastery of Saint Victor. He reposed in peace about the year 433.

The last of his writings was On the Incarnation of the Lord, Against Nestorius, written in 430 at the request of Leo, the Archdeacon of Pope Celestine. In this work he was the first to show the spiritual kinship between Pelagianism, which taught that Christ was a mere man who without the help of God had avoided sin, and that it was possible for man to overcome sin by his own efforts; and Nestorianism, which taught that Christ was a mere man used as an instrument by the Son of God, but was not God become man; and indeed, when Nestorius first became Patriarch of Constantinople in 428, he made much show of persecuting the heretics, with the exception only of the Pelagians, whom he received into communion and interceded for them to the Emperor and to Pope Celestine.

The error opposed to Pelagianism but equally ruinous was Augustine's teaching that after the fall, man was so corrupt that he could do nothing for his own salvation, and that God simply predestined some men to salvation and others to damnation. Saint John Cassian refuted this blasphemy in the thirteenth of his Conferences, with Abbot Chairemon, which eloquently sets forth, at length and with many citations from the Holy Scriptures, the Orthodox teaching of the balance between the grace of God on one hand, and man's efforts on the other, necessary for our salvation.

Saint Benedict of Nursia, in Chapter 73 of his Rule, ranks Saint Cassian's Institutes and Conferences first among the writings of the monastic fathers, and commands that they be read in his monasteries; indeed, the Rule of Saint Benedict is greatly indebted to the Institutes of Saint John Cassian. Saint John Climacus also praises him highly in section 105 of Step 4 of the Ladder of Divine Ascent, on Obedience.

February 28

Basil the Confessor

Wisdom of the Fathers

It is possible for those who have come back again after repentance to shine with much lustre, and oftentimes more than those who have never fallen at all, I have demonstrated from the divine writings. Thus at least both the publicans and the harlots inherit the kingdom of Heaven, thus many of the last are placed before the first.

St. John Chrysostom

AN EXHORTATION TO THEODORE AFTER HIS FALL, 4th Century

When lately we made mention of the Pharisee and the publican, and hypothetically yoked two chariots out of virtue and vice; we pointed out each truth, how great is the gain of humbleness of mind, and how great the damage of pride.

St. John Chrysostom

CONCERNING LOWLINESS OF MIND., 4th Century

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Timothy the Righteous

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Polycarp the Holy Martyr & Bishop of Smyrna

The Holy Great Martyr Photine, the Samaritan Women

Procopius the Confessor of Decapolis

Righteous John Cassian the Confessor

Basil the Confessor

Wisdom of the Fathers